Irn-Bru Cup: A strange concoction that has definitely lost its fizz

Irn-Bru has a bit of a reputation as a hangover cure, although I’m not sure if that is backed up by science or not.

If there is any truth in that tale then the Tangerines could have done with some of the sponsor’s orange stuff to cure their sore heads, sick stomachs and bad moods after what was a dreadful defeat.

You could describe the club’s relationship with the Challenge Cup over the years as love-hate.

They won the tournament last season, of course, but suffered an embarrassing final defeat to Stenhousemuir in 1995. Maybe now it’s much more hate than love.

To be brutally honest, this competition is a bit of a pest at best and an unwelcome distraction at worst.

It gets in the way of the real football and I would happily see it scrapped.

It was bad enough before it was expanded to include teams from home nations Northern Ireland and Wales, sides from a foreign country in the form of the Republic of Ireland and colt teams from Scotland’s top-flight clubs.

Now it is just a strange concoction that has definitely had its day.

If they were being honest, a lot of teams would admit they are not sorry to be put out so they can get on with the serious stuff.

I would also confidently predict that every United fan, as they left Tannadice on Saturday, was wishing that was the last Challenge Cup tie they will ever see.